Chicago Bears: No 10-Sack Repeat Performance vs. the New York Giants
Published by Brett Lyons on August 19, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Last year’s Week 4 Sunday Night Football contest between the Chicago Bears and New York Giants was what famous wrestling announcer Jim Ross would describe as a “slobber-knocker.” Things got ugly for the Bears as New York took the game, 17-3, handing the Bears their first loss of 2010.
The Giants took the field against the Bears as if everyone on Chicago’s roster had personally insulted their mothers on national television. The intensity of the defense was so high, even a poor performance by Eli Manning was good enough to win the game.
The combination of defensive ends Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora combined for six of the Giants’ 10 sacks. Of the 10, nine came in the first half alone.
Bears quarterback Jay Cutler should have won an Academy Award for his performance as a “real life test dummy” on this night. On the ninth and final sack of the first half, Cutler’s head met the ground hard. He would not come out to play the second half as he was diagnosed with a concussion.
It was not a pretty night for Bears fans. Todd Collins was pitiful in replacement, Matt Forte averaged 2.2 yards per carry and the sacks would have baffled even the most durable signal callers.
When the Bears and Giants meet up on Monday Night Football this week, they will renew their acquaintances for the first time since the knockout delivered by New York last season.
Not to fear, Bears fans—there will be no repeat performance against the Giants this week. Granted this is a preseason bout, things will be different and less brutal for the Chicago offense.
Why you may ask will things be different the second time around? It’s all about the running game.
In the game last year, Forte ran 12 times for the Bears and achieved just 26 yards from scrimmage. This was also when the Mike Martz offense was “unbalanced” as many more pass plays were called than runs.
The running game will be significantly better for the Bears in 2011. The one thing to take from the offseason changes on the Bears offensive line is that run blocking was addressed.
Rookie right tackle Gabe Carimi played left tackle with the Wisconsin Badgers throughout his collegiate career. Wisconsin was a dominant running team, and Carimi was the anchor to that line.
In addition to Carimi, the Bears swapped out tight ends Greg Olsen and Brandon Manumaleuna for Matt Spaeth and Kellen Davis. Why the changes? Olsen and Manumaleuna were pass-catching tight ends and struggled in blocking—especially Olsen last year versus the Giants. Spaeth and Davis are basically additional linemen.
Pass blocking may still be a concern, but running the ball is something the Bears will try to do more regularly this season.
Running the ball more against New York also will cut down on the number of chances the Giants will have to record a sack. You can’t record a sack on a handoff. Simple as that.
Keeping the offense balanced and honest will be a key to avoiding a brutal repeat performance.
Plus, what are the odds lightning strikes twice and the Giants record 10 sacks again? That can’t possibly happen—right? Right?
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